Crist: Cut less, borrow more

Gov. Charlie Crist carefully avoids direct criticism of the Legislature. But he voiced disappointment Tuesday that lawmakers' preliminary budget-cutting plans take more money from schools than he proposed. Crist wants them to cut less and borrow more, from bonding for prison beds, a budget stabilization fund and the Lawton Chiles health care endowment.

"What are we supposed to do? Sit around and admire that money? It's there for a reason," Crist told reporters at the Governor's Mansion. "The reason is to utilize it when you're in tough times. Here we are." Lawmakers are leery of increased borrowing because of the interest payments and the fact that Florida's ratio of debt to revenue is already above prudent levels.

Crist has proposed cutting about $600-million in recurring tax revenue from state programs, and legislators tentatively have proposed about $1-billion in cuts, about half of it in education alone. "One of the concerns that I have is that we make these reductions without hurting the end user: the student. So we're watching closely," said Crist, the governor who garnered headlines last year for promising to "hold schools harmless" from cuts. "We'll continue to have discussions about that, and I remain helpful."

Crist invited a group of economic development experts to a "Tallahassee Tuesday" discussion of a new $10-million loan program to help medium-sized companies create more good-paying jobs. Businesses will be able to apply for $250,000 low-interest loans to be repaid within five years.  Asked whether the program is too modest to really stimulate Florida's economy, Crist said: "It certainly doesn't hurt."

--Steve Bousquet   

Comments

[Jeff]

WON'T AFFECT EDUCATION. You have to be kidding us. 1/2 billion in January 09, 350 million in 08 and how much more in March of 09???? Crist needs to go with the rest of the Repubs on the Hill.

Chop at the top.

How much did taxpayers pay for the European vacation?!?!

"Cut less, borrow more"

Now THAT'S... the conservative we all know and avoid!

Rollback taxes and spending to 2002 levels, cap taxation and spending at the annual CPI going forward, expand SOH to all property both residential and commercial, and vote every incumbent out of office at your first available opportunity.

Problem Solved!

the fact that Florida's ratio of debt to revenue is already above prudent levels...

A 3.5% reduction, following a 75% increase in revenue… being sold as the end of times.

BRILLIANT!

[william l ratliff]

HELLO QUESTION IF THE STATE IS IN SUCH A CRUNCH ,MONEY WISH. WHY IS PASCO BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL ON 52HWY AND CANTON . I KNOW YOU'LL SAY THEY BE ALLOCATED THE MONEY , BUT JUST THINK OF JOBS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVE LATE DOWN THE ROAD. AND YOU MAY SAY IT'LL CREATE JOBS. ALL THESE ARE TRUE , BUT WITH SCHOOLS CLOSING DOWN AND THE STATE BUDGET IN A BIND I FEEL IT NOT USING GOOD JUDGMENT TO DO THIS BUILDING KNOW. THANK YOU

[Abe Lincoln]

Sounds like something a democrat would do. Spending what we do not have is bad for Florida.

Did Crist not learn that borrowing a lot of money got us into this economic slowdown to begin with it? No cash, no buy! Same thing applies here.

Save it, Abe… your boy Dubya made that his entire economic mantra!

[notsosmart]

This will not make or break the budget shortfall, but we must look at prisoner health care. I mean like what do we pay for the care each prisoner gets at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville where the person goes for Surgery? Does the hospital keep the prisoner just past midnight so they can bill the state an extra day? I wonder if the hospital bills are audited. You know when we go to the hospital, your bills are always over charged. Does anyone question the prisoner's charges, or does the state just pay the bill?
I think the State employees free pension plan has to take a hair cut as well as the way the sick days can be shared with other employees when they run short and need more hours. Employees that run short of sick time hours abuse the system (normally).
I think all state employees that work from home need to work in the office. The state has desks in the office for them anyway, so let us have them come to work so we can know for sure they are working.
I think state employees should not "VEST" a retirement in six years. Who ever heard of qualifying for a fully funded retirement in "six" years?
I think there are many places Crist can cut as well as many places Crist better not cut. It is time to get on with it.
As far as the schools go, let us stop the mandates for a year and see where we stand. I am sure we will all make it a year without mandates. You and I made it without mandates, I am sure our children will do just fine without them as well.
I would like to cut 25% of the House of Representatives until further notice. Let us cut the one’s that have credit problems or have filed bankruptcy or are about to do so. They cannot help us out with the budget anyway. We can save money by not having them around.

A 3.5% reduction, following a 75% increase in revenue… being sold as the end of times.

BRILLIANT!

[terminator]

that's the solution from "empty chair" Chuck.
just keep raiding trust funds until they're gone!

Notsosmart - your comments fit your name perfectly. State pension: you're vested after six years; however, for most state employees, you only receive 1.6% of your salary for each year you work (If you work 10 years and retire, you will only receive 16% of your salary, 30 years gets you 48%). In return for a pension, state employees receive considerably less in salary than is paid for a comparable position in private industry, and less than paid to federal, county and municipal employees. The pension helps some, but try finding qualified professionals who are willing to settle for low wages for 30 years, little chance for advancement, stagnant salaries (there are virtually no funds for merit increases and cost of living increases are at the whim of the legislature - how would you like that?) - all for a pension. If you think state employment is such a great deal, please apply for a job. I can't keep my employees - they usually quit after a few years and go to private industry or the federal government for higher salaries and better benefits - this after my agency invests thousands of dollars and countless hours training them. Do you think this is smart, constantly paying thousands of dollars to train people only to see them leave after they're trained? That's what happens when you underpay employees. If you cut the pension and other benefits, and don't raise salaries, how do expect to attract qualified employees? Who do you want working for the state - idiots?

Terminator...you comments have become boring.

[Pete]

Who works for the state now anyway? Idiots. We have to be idiots to stay here so long without a raise in years and no chance of advancement. We ARE seriously, woefully underpaid and overworked. There are some that abuse the sick pool, there always will be slackers. But most of us are hard-working, respectful and ethical employees who are being used and abused by a state government that doesn't appreciate its employees one bit. So, are we idiots? Yes, but we're hard-working idiots, watching the slackers around us and hoping one day to get the recognition and the pay scale we deserve. Doesn't look promising in this economy.

Florida loves Charlie.

Haven't you seen his approval ratings?

[Sandi Simpson]

Let's start with the $430K spent on Crist's recent trip. NINE (9) security guards - chances are no one really knew who he was...and everything else.I'll bet there's several teacher salaries right there. House cleaning starts with one's own house